Far Hills encompasses nearly 5 square miles (13 km2) in Somerset County, encircled by the equally upscale communities of Bedminster Township, Peapack-Gladstone, Bernards Township, and Bernardsville.[23] It shares a community pool, athletic programs, civic organizations, and a school system with Bernardsville. It shares a public library, a fire department and a first aid squad with neighboring Bedminster Township

The borough maintains the character through 10-acre (40,000 m2) minimum zoning laws whereby large private properties and homes surround a small village which was the creation of a wealthy New York businessman in the late 1800s.[24] The beginning of rail service to nearby Bernardsville in 1870, opened the area to city people seeking a respite from the heat and hurry of urban life.

Evander H. Schley, a land developer and real estate broker from New York, purchased thousands of acres in Bedminster and Bernards townships in the 1880s. One day in 1887, Schley's brother, Grant, and his wife, Elizabeth, arrived by horse-drawn carriage to see Evander's farms. Elizabeth is said to have remarked on the beautiful vista of the "far hills," thus giving the name to the place before a village was built.[25]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Far Hills borough had a total area of 4.881 square miles (12.641 km2), including 4.797 square miles (12.424 km2) of land and 0.084 square miles (0.217 km2) of water (1.72%).[1][2]

There were 376 households, of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02.[8]

In the borough, 24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.[8]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $125,833 (with a margin of error of +/- $29,841) and the median family income was $202,083 (+/- $85,006). Males had a median income of $177,083 (+/- $60,611) versus $76,250 (+/- $38,263) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $93,495 (+/- $19,515). About 3.6% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.[33]

There were 368 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.76.[31][32]

The population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.[31][32]

The median income for a household was $112,817, and the median income for a family was $149,095. Males had a median income of $90,000 versus $46,607 for females. The per capita income was $81,535. About 0.8% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.[31][32]

From 2000 through 2005 the Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase returned to the Far Hills Races after a hiatus of six years. Known for the highest prize money of a steeplechase in America, the purse for the Breeders' Cup winner has been as large as $250,000 and has attracted up to 100,000 spectators. Several races are scheduled by Far Hills Race Meeting Association in late October of each year. Considered one of the premier social events of the year in the tri-state area, it is attended by as many as 75,000 people annually.[35]

Far Hills is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The Borough form of government used by Far Hills, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[39][40]

As of 2015[update], the Mayor of Far Hills is Republican Dr. Paul J. Vallone, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2018. Members of the Far Hills Borough Council are Joseph Carty (R, 2017), Richard Hand (R, 2015), Thomas Howland (R, 2015), David Karner (R, 2016), David Surks (R, 2016) and Sheila Tweedie (R, 2017).[3][41][42][43][44]

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 748 registered voters in Far Hills, of which 97 (13.0% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 382 (51.1% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 268 (35.8% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[68] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 81.4% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 107.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).[68][69]

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 71.0% of the vote (348 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 28.0% (137 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (5 votes), among the 493 ballots cast by the borough's 793 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.2%.[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 355 votes (63.1% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 196 votes (34.8% vs. 52.1%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.9% vs. 1.1%), among the 563 ballots cast by the borough's 726 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.5% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County).[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 342 votes (67.7% vs. 51.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 160 votes (31.7% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 2 votes (0.4% vs. 0.9%), among the 505 ballots cast by the borough's 636 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).[73]

As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 15.28 miles (24.59 km) of roadways, of which 9.70 miles (15.61 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.59 miles (4.17 km) by Somerset County and 2.99 miles (4.81 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[86]

^Quint, Michael. "The Financier 'Who Knows What Is Going On'", The New York Times, August 6, 1988. Accessed August 25, 2012. "The great grandson of Anthony N. Brady, an Irish emigrant who was a friend and business associate of Thomas A. Edison, Nicholas Brady grew up on a large estate in Far Hills, N.J., that borders on the Dillon family estate."

^Caldwell, Dave. "A Hard-to-Match Personality, With Potential to Boot", The New York Times, May 27, 2006. Accessed August 25, 2012. "P. J. Chesson, who will drive in his first Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, has already had a wild week.... He grew up on a horse farm in Far Hills, N.J., and had little experience racing on ovals, let alone pavement, until two years ago."

^James, George. "Malcolm Forbes, Publisher, Dies at 70", The New York Times, February 26, 1990. Accessed August 25, 2012. "Malcolm Forbes, chairman and editor in chief of Forbes Magazine and a flamboyant multimillionaire whose enthusiastic pursuits included yachting, motorcycling and ballooning, died Saturday of a heart attack in his sleep at his home in Far Hills, N.J. He was 70 years old."

^Staff. "Lance Honors Colonel Jack H. Jacobs of Far Hills", The Messenger-Gazette, September 20, 2013. Accessed February 1, 2015. "Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ 07) this week recognized Colonel Jack H. Jacobs of Far Hills, during a special period in the House of Representatives devoted to honoring Medal of Honor winners: 'Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the military service record of Colonel Jack H. Jacobs of Far Hills, New Jersey.'"

^Plumeri Park, William & Mary Tribe baseball, January 1, 1999. Accessed August 25, 2012. "Baseball proved to be a lifelong love, and he and his family own two minor league baseball teams. Plumeri and his wife, Nancy, reside in Far Hills, N.J."

^Ackermann, Peggy. "Andrew Schlafly", The Record (Bergen County), May 25, 2010. Accessed August 25, 2012. "Appearing before the high court for the recall group, Far Hills attorney Andrew Schlafly, son of conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, cited a letter George Washington wrote to his nephew, Bushrod Washington, on Nov. 10, 1787."